Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to the veteran's service-connected myofascial pain syndrome and sleep apnea, due to a lack of competent medical evidence supporting such a diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, as these conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's military service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar myositis.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied, but his claims to reopen service connection for a seizure disorder and left knee degenerative joint disease were successful.

The veteran's initial ratings for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and residuals of left hand anatomical snuffbox occult fracture were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is not shown to be more disabling than currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these benefits.

The appeal was remanded to provide the veteran with required notice and development for his claims of service connection.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent evaluation for erectile dysfunction prior to April 4, 2005, and the claim was denied from that date. The appeal for PTSD was withdrawn.

The veteran's post-operative residuals of cervical stenosis, right hand injury, and left hand injury are not due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The veteran's neck disability was not related to his inservice car crash, and the current low back disability was denied service connection. The effective date for a 10 percent rating for the right knee disability could not be earlier than March 29, 2002.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, low back, cervical spine, bilateral hand, and shoulder disabilities are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to cold exposure during his active duty service.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and low back disorder with sciatica to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine as they were not related to the veteran's active military service.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a connection between the veteran's post-operative residuals of cervical degenerative arthritis and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral shoulder disorders, bilateral arm disorders, and headaches as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to provide her with a new VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine strain, finding that the veteran's condition had its onset in service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, skin cancer, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss for additional development of the medical record.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and headaches as they are causally related to the veteran's head injury during his National Guard training.